Apparatus for feeding cleats to boxmaking machines



Nov. 10, 1953 D. G. KINGSLEY APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CLEATS TO BOXMAKINGMACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 31, 1951 INVENTOR. Bay/d 6.Kmgs/ey AWTORIVEYS.

Nov. 10, 1953 D. e. KI NGSLEY 2,658,631

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CLEATS TO BOXMAKING MACHINES Fil ed March 31, 19515 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

David G. Klhggley. M, 97% w J ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 10, 1953 D. G. KINGSLEY APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CLEATS TO BOXMAKINGMACHINES Filed March 31, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 5 m9 vn m. m 6. u m DY BNov. 10, 1953 D. G. KINGSLEY ,6

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING CLEATS TO BOXMAKING MACHINES Filed March 51, 19515 Sheets-Sheet 5 OOOOOODO 1N VEN TOR.

David G. K/hgs/ey A TTORNEYS Patented Nov. 10, 1953 APPARATUS FORFEEDING CLEATS TO BOXMAKING MACHINES David G. Kingsley, Mountain Lakes,N. J., as-

signor to stapling Machines 00., Rockaway, N. J a corporation ofDelaware Application March 31, 1951, Serial No. 218,643

9 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing cleats to abox-making machine, the apparatus being particularly adapted fordispensing cleats of two different lengths into their proper respectivepositions upon the conveyors of the box-making machine.

lhe apparatus of the present invention is especially useful withbox-making machines of the general class disclosed in United StatesPatent No. 2,304,510, issued December 8, 1942. In such machines,continuously moving conveyor bands carry properly arranged box partspast a transverse row of stapling units by which the box parts arestapled together to form box part units or complete wirebound boxblanks.

The box units are usually formmed of side material such as slats, andsupporting cleats stapled thereto. A wirebound box includes a pluralityusually iourof such box units or sides foldably secured together bybinding wires stapled to each of the sides so that when the sides arefolded to form the box, the binding wires extend around the box and thetwo ends of each of the binding wires may be fastened together to closethe box. The cleats usually have mitered or notched ends so that theadjacent ends of the cleats will abut or interfit snugly when the sidesof the box are folded.

In making box blanks, the cleats are usually placed first on theconveying mechanism of the box-making machine, and the side material isthen laid on top of the cleats. Both the cleats and side material areengaged by spaced pushing elements on the conveyor bands of the machine,and thus conveyed in properly arranged relation to the staplingmechanism.

Until recently, the placement of the slats and cleats has beenaccomplished almost exclusively by manual labor. In the copendingapplication, Serial Number 70,868, and issued on June 3, 1952, as U.Letters Patent No. 2,599,460, there is disclosed apparatus formechanically dispensing cleats to a box-making machine. This apparatus,however, is primarily adapted for dispensing cleats of only one lengthand is not well adapted for applications where cleats of more than onelength must be dispensed. Where all of the sides or" a box have equaldimensions-for example, as in boxes with square ends-the dispensingapparatus need be capable of handling cleats of only one length. Where,however, the ends of the boxes being made are oblong, so that the widthand depth of a box are unequal, the apparatus must be capable ofdispensing alternate cleats of different lengths.

The present invention provides apparatus for mechanically dispensingcleats of at least two different lengths into their proper respectivepositions on the conveying mechanism of a boxmaking machine. As will bedescribed more particularly hereinafter, means is provided to preventthe longer cleats from tipping downwardly where they will be engaged bythe pushing elements provided for engagement with the short cleats, aswould otherwise tend to occur, with possible jamming of the dispensingapparatus. Means is also provided to oscillate the cleats within thedispensing apparatus to prevent their becoming interlocked and impairingthe proper dispensation of cleats.

Suitable illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a View of the right-hand side of a wirebound box-makingmachine showing an automatic cleat-dispensing apparatus embodyingfeatures of the invention installed adjacent the input or left-hand endof the machine as viewed in the figure;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View of the left-hand half of thecleat-dispensing apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end view of the dispensing apparatus, asviewed from the lefthand side of Figure 2;

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentary views of the portion of thedispensing apparatus appearing in the lower portion of Figure 2, withsome parts omitted for clarity, and showing progressive steps in thedispensation of cleats of two different lengths;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figures l, 5 and 6, illustrating analternative embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary end view of the dispensing apparatus shown inFigure '7, as viewed from the left-hand side of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a View similar to Figure 2, but illustrating an alternativeembodiment of the inven tion including means for facilitating theseparation of interlocked cleats; and

Figure 10 is an end view of the apparatus shown in Figure 9, as viewedfrom the left-hand side of Figure 9 showing, in addition to the ele--ments appearing in Figure 9, means for communieating power to thecleat-dispensing apparatus.

Figure 11 is a top plan View of the dispensing apparatus showing thehoppers in position over the conveyor bands of the box-making machineand with the horizontal cleat guideways communicating with said hoppers.

In Figure 1, there is shown in somewhat diagrammatic elevation, theright-hand side of a box-making machine of the type disclosed in theaforementioned patent. Near the input or lefthand end of the machine inFigure l, is shown a cleat-dispensing apparatus, generally designated A,embodying features of the present invention. The apparatus A iscomprised of two sections B and C, having cleat hoppers D and Erespectively, which supply cleats to the conveying mechanism at theleftand right-hand sides of the box-making machine. The conveyingmechanism includes endless conveyor bands 2 trained about idlersprockets 3 at the front or input end of the machine and about drivensprockets 4 keyed to drive shaft 5 at the rear or output end. The boxparts placed on the conveyor bands near the input end of the machine areconveyed under a transverse row of stapling units mounted between sideframes 6 in the central portion of the machine, and the assembled boxunits or box blanks are removed from the conveyor bands at the output orright-hand end of the machine as shown in Figure 1.

Since, the construction of the dispensing apparatus A is similar in manyrespects to the cleat dispensing apparatus disclosed in theaforementioned application, Serial Number 70,868, the description of thepresent apparatus will be principally directed only to the featurespertinent to the present invention. Also, since sections B and C of theapparatus are of generally similar construction, only section B, whichsupplies cleats to the conveyor band 2 at the left-hand side of thebox-making machine, will be de scribed in detail.

As may be seen in Figures 1 and 11, the side walls of the apparatus areformed by plate members 8, and the apparatus is divided equally intosections B and C by a center wall or plate member 9. As shown in Figures2 and 3, wall members 8 and 9 are supported and secured at the output orright-hand end of the apparatus A, by upstanding angle members the lowerends of which are suitably secured to the longitudinal rail 3| whichsupports the conveyor band 2; the opposite ends of the wall members 8and!) are suitably supported by means not shown in the drawings. Themembers 8 and 9 are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than thelength of the longest cleats to be dispensed, and secured by crossbraces II (Figure 10). Horizontally positioned V-belts 12 runninglongitudinally between wall members 8 and 9 of sections B and C, aretrained about idler V-pulleys (not shown) at the input end of the deviceA and have their oppositely disposed ends trained about V-pulleys I3keyed to shaft 14, whose ends are journaled in bearings such as shown at(Figures 3 and 9) fastened to the inner faces of wall members 8. Theupper runs of the belts [2 are supported by longitudinal rails l6(Figure mounted on the cross braces H. A plurality of bars or outerguide members [8 (see Figures 2, 3 and 11) are mounted in a common planespaced above the upper runs of the belts l2 by a distance slightlyexceeding the thickness of the cleats so as to form with the belts ahorizontal channel or guideway through which the cleats may be moved bythe moving belts. At the input end of the ap paratus, these guidemembers 18 do not extend as far as do the belts, but are cut off shortto leave a substantial length of the upper runs of 4 the belts exposedto facilitate manual placement of the cleats on the belts.

At the delivery end of the belts [2, the outer guide members [8 arecurved concentrically to the curve of the belts around the pulleys I3,and extend vertically downward, their lower ends being supported by ahorizontal cross brace 2| which is secured at its opposite ends to theside walls 8 and 9. A plurality of similar bars or inner guide membersI! are provided, having upper portions curved to follow the plane of thecurved portions of the belts I2 and having lower portions extendingvertically downward to rest upon a horizontally extending L-shaped crossbrace I9 which is secured to the upstanding angle brackets Ill.

The inner and outer guide members thus form a vertical trough or hopperD into which the cleats are fed by the moving belts. The cleats arestacked on the belts, with longer and shorter cleats alternating, andlying on their sides-that is, rotated about their long axes through'anangle of from the orientation in which it is desired ultimately todispense them. The curvature of the guideway formed by the inner andouter guide members I! and f8 and the belts results in rotation of thecleats through an angle of 90", thereby achieving the desiredorientation.

In order to provide access into the hopper D for rearranging or removingcleats, and so on, a gate is povided at the lower end of the hopper.This gate is formed of a plurality of vertical bars or guide members 25secured to the inner face of a bracket 25 carried by a support member21. This support member 21 is hinged at 28 to an L- shaped base 29 whichin turn is secured to the angle rail 3| supporting the box partsconveying elements. When the gate is in closed position, as shown inFigure 3, the bars 25 are in the same plane and in axial alignment withthe downwardly projecting portions of bars [8.

The gate is opened by rotating it clockwise about the hinge 28, asindicated by arrow 32 (Figure 3). Latches '33 (Figure 2) are provided tomaintain the gate in normally closed position.

As may be seen in Figures 2 and 3, the hopper D is closed at its sideadjacent the trailing end of the cleats-the left-hand side as viewed inFigure 2--by a fixed guide member 34 which extends downwardly from wallmember 8 with its inner face in alignment with that of wall member 8.The lower end of the guide member 34 is shaped into an inclined shelf 36which extends inwardly of hopper D to a predetermined point beneath thetrailing ends of the longer cleats in approximately the thirdfrom-bottom position in the stack of cleats in the hopper. The oppositeend of hopper D, shown at the right in Figure 2, is closed by a movableguide member 3? hinged at 38 to a bracket 8? fastened to the outersurface of center wall member 9, and held in position by latch pivotedabout pin 97 on cross brace 2 I, engaging pin 98 in guide member 3?. Theinner surface of guide member 31 is in alignment with that of centerwall member 9 to provide a guide for the leading ends of all cleats,both long and short. The bottom end of guide member 3'; is notched outto receive the upper end of an exit gate 4! which is pivotally mountedon a pin 32 extending from guide memher 3?. The exit gate ll extendsdownwardly a predetermined distance, and provides a recess or offset .3to compensate'for and cooperate with inclined shelf 36, by permittingslight forward movement of a cleat in the second-from-bottom position inthe stack. Exit gate 4! is normally held in closed position, as shown inFigure 2, against the stop a l formed by the notch at the lower end ofguide member 37, by a spring finger the upper end of which is secured tothe outer surface of guide member 3'! and the lower free end or whichbears against the outer surface of exit ate ll.

The source of driving power for the cleatconveying elements of device Ais shown in Figures 9 and 16, particularly in Figure 10. A motor id iscoupled to the drive shaft is through a speed reducer :38, a sprocketdrive chain 59, and sprocket 5t keyed to shaft l There is thus impartedto the drive shaft M a clockwise rotation, as viewed in Figure 10, whichdrives the pulleys i3 and belts l2 so that the belts move at a speedslightly in excess of the rate at which cleats are removed from thehopper.

To describe more fully the operation of device A and particularlycertain elements of this invention and their function in the process offeeding cleats of two different lengths, reference is made to Figures 2,3, l, 5, and 6.

At the commencement of operations, the feed belts ll of sections B and Cand their respective hoppers D and E are completely loaded with cleatsof alternate lengths, with the bottom cleat in each of the hoppers beingof the length corresponding to that of the space ahead of the firstspacer element X or Y which will pass beneath the hopper when theconveyors 2 are started in movement. The cleats are placed in the hopperso that the leading end of each cleat is against the inner face of theadjacent wall member, as shown in the drawings.

with rotation imparted to shaft it, the moving belts i2 continuouslyexert pressure upon the column of cleats stacked in hopper D by means offriction between the belts and the cleats thereon. With the egress ofeach successive cleat from the hopper, the column of cleats in thehopper is permitted to drop by a distance equal to the thickness of acleat; and other cleats are moved forward by the belts to fill up thespace vacated.

As may be seen in Figures 4, 5, and (i, a cleat support step 5 2,similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned application Serial No,70,868, is provided at the bottom of the hopper, extending from thetrailing end of the hopper to a point slightly forward of its center;the step thus affords support for the trailing end of the column ofcleats in the hopper.

At the start of operation, a dummy cleat V may be placed upon cleatsupport track 53 with a portion of its trailing end supporting thecolumn of cleats in hopper D, as shown in Figure 4.

With this initial arrangement, and with the conveyors 2 of thebox-making machine moving in the direction indicated by arrow iii, dummycleat V is moved by push finger X of the leading spacer element El. fromits position shown in Figure l to that shown Figure 5, thereby removingboth the dummy cleat V and push finger X from beneat the short cleat a,allowing the column of cleats in hopper D to drop, and placing shortcleat a in the desired space S (Figure 4) between push finger X of theleading spacer element X and push finger Y of the next following spacerelement Y when space S between push finger X and push finger Y attains aposition as shown in Figure 5. In Figure 5, short cleat a shown restingupon cleat support step 52 with its leading end a. about to clear thebottom of exit gate 4!. It will also be seen that the trailing end 22 ofthe next lon cleat b above is momentarily supported on inclined shelf36, While the forward end b of long cleat Zr has moved downward to thesecond from bottom position in the stack of cleats, in position to enteroffset 43. With continued movement of short cleat a by push finger Yfrictional engagement between the upper surface of cleat a and bottomsurface of cleat b causes long cleat b to follow in the same directionand enter offset 43, which allows the trailing end 12 of long cleat b todrop from inclined shelf 35 to its position shown by dotdash lines P inFigure 6. In this position, the trailing end 1: of cleat b is supportedon the step 52, and its leading end b is tilted upward where it willenga e exit gate ll. Continued movement of conveyors 2 will move pushfinger Y from beneath forward end 12 of long cleat b, allowing said longcleat to drop to a horizontal position upon cleat support step 52, asshown in dash lines in Figure 6. Long cleat b is then in position to becontacted by push finger Z and moved beneath exit gate ti and out of thehopper. The sequence of operations just described follows as each shortcleat a and long cleat 1: arrive at the bottom of hopper D.

While the procedure described above and shown in the figures indicatesthat short cleat a is the initial cleat fed from hoppers D and E, itwill be understood that the reverse procedure may be followed equally aswell, that is, long cleat b may be the initial cleat fed. The cleatarrangement is, of course, determined by the pattern of spacer elementson the conveyors 2.

The momentary engagement of the trailing end of each long cleat with theinclined shelf 35 until the leading end of the cleat can clear the lowerend of the guide 3? and move into the notch serves a very importantpurpose. If it were not for this arrangement, the trailing end b of thelong cleat b in Figure for example, would tip downwardly into the pathof the push finger if so that this push finger, which should engage thetrailing end a of the short cleat as below, instead engages the cleat22. Since the leading end 11 of the cleat b is against the end guide 3?and has not moved into the notch 53, this would produce a jam or othermalfunction of the dispensing apparatus which would interrupt operationand perhaps damage the apparatus.

Certain conditions of the cleat faces, particularly when the top andbottom surfaces are roughly sawed, tend to cause difficulty in theproper advancement of long cleat 2) just previous to its egress from thehopper, due to its interlocking with cleat c. The interlocked cleatseither prevent trailing end 12 of long cleat b from sliding on" inclinedshelf 36 and the forward end b from entering offse 33 or caused adelayed movement of cleats adjacent the bottom of the hopper, resultingin a jam within the hopper.

Such difnculties in dispensing roughly sawed cleats of two diiferentlengths may be eliminated by the alternate means of momentarilysupporting the trailing ends of the long cleats b, as shown in Figures 7and In Figure '7 there is shown in full lines at the left-hand side ofthe lower portion of hopper D a movable support lid supporting trailingend b of long cleat b. The upwardly extended head 55 of the movablesupport is pivotally mounted on a pin iii within a slot 56 in anoutwardly extending portion of a bracket 58 fastened to the lower end ofwall member 8. The inner face of the bracket 53 is in alignment withthe-corresponding face of wall member 8, and the lower endof the'bracket58 is beveled at '61 to cooperate with a corresponding beveled face 52'of movable support 54 in limiting movement of the movable support E lin a counter-clockwise.direction, as viewed in Figure 7. Movablesupportfii'carries at the outer face of its L-shaped lower end (Figure8) an elongated bar 63 (more clearly shown in Figure 7) to provide ameans for operating movable support 54. To remove-the movable supportfrom the trailin end of the long cleats and to hold it normally in aclockwise position, as shown dot-dash lines in Figure 7, there isprovided a coil spring ts compressed between the bottom of a recess 65in the body :portion of bracket 59 and a beveled surface'fiii on theadjacent face of movable support 54. It will be noted that the elements37, ll, etc..at the lower right-hand portion or" the hopper of Figure 7are the same as those previously described in connection with Figures 2and 3.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the movable support 54 is operated by thespacer elements and, more specifically, by the body portions 6"! of thespacer elements. Although movable support 54 is required to support thetrailing ends of only the long cleats (to prevent their tipping downinto the path of the push fingers of the spacer elements provided topush the short cleats) for simplicity movable support '54 is operated byeach of thespacer elements as they contact elongated bar 63. It will beseen at the extreme left-hand side of Figure '7 adjacent the end ofcleat support step 52, that the body portion 61 of spacer element Y(shown in broken lines) is about to contact the under surface ofelongated bar 63. Continued movement of spacer element Y in thedirection indicated .by arrow will cause movable support 54 to rotatecounterclockwise, as indicated by arrow -68, against the resistance ofspring 64, until the beveled face 62 of support 54 approaches orcontacts stop -6I of bracket 58, as shown in full lines in Figure 7.Support 54 will remain in this position, supporting the trailing end bof long cleat 1) until the body portion 61 of spacer element Y passesfrom beneath elongated bar 63, and allows spring 64 to move support 54to its clockwise position out of the way 'of long cleat 22. Since bythis time push finger 'Y of spacer element Y will have passed beneaththe trailing end b of long cleat b, as shown in dotdash lines in Figure'7, any possibility that the trailing end of long cleat b may tip downinto the path of push finger Y is substantially eliminated. The actionof movable support -54 in contacting the trailing end of each long cleatcontributes the additional desirable effect of tending to separatecleats that are locked together, thereby allowing proper progress of thecleats in the hopper.

A solenoid or other suitable device could be used to actuate movablesupport 54 in timed relationship with the cleat-pushing element insteadof the direct contact of body portion 61 with elongated bar 63.

In Figures 9 and there is shown anlapparatus for effectively separatingthe interlocking surfaces of roughly sawed cleats by causing oscillationof the long cleats at the lower end of the hopper relative to theadjacentshort cleats, thus shearing their locked interfaces. As may beseen in Figure 9, in lieu of the semi-fixed end guides '34 and 31described in connection with Figure 2, oscillating members 10 areprovided, their inner faces in alignment with the corresponding .facesof wall members 8 and 9. The upper ends of the oscillating members 10are pivotally mounted at 1| to brackets 12 secured to the outer faces ofthe wall members. At the left-hand side of hopper D, the oscillatingmember 10 is interposed between the bottom of a cut-away portion of wallmember 8 and an inclined shelf 13 which is fastened to the upstandingangle member IO. At the right-hand side of said hopper, oscillatingmember 10 is interposed between the bottom of a cut-away portion of wallmember 9 and exit gate support 15 fastened to upstanding angle memberID. The two oscillating members .10 are tied together by a bar '|9pivotally attached at its opposite ends to the two oscillating membersby pins 18 and eyes 11 secured near the center of the outer surface ofeach of the oscillating members.

To communicate movement to oscillating members 10, power is derived fromdrive shaft 14, the end of which at the left-hand side-of hopper D(Figure 9) extends outwardly beyond wall member 8 a short distanceandhas keyed thereto a bevel gear 80. The bevel gear meshes with asimilargear 8| keyed to a short vertical shaft 83 extending through a bearing84 supported by a bracket 85 extending from the upstanding angle member[0. To the opposite end of the shaft 83 is keyed a bevel gear 82 whichmeshes with a similar gear 8'! keyed to one end of a short horizontalshaft 88. The shaft 88 extends througha bearing -89 supported by abracket 90 fastened to upstanding angle member 10. Also keyed on theshaft 88 is an eccentric member 92 cooperating with a rod or followermember 93 pivotally connected to eye Ti of oscillating member 10 by pin18.

When motor 46 (Figure 10) is energized, shaft 14 is rotated and, throughthe means just described, reciprocating movement is imparted tooscillating members 10, as indicated by broken lines in Figure -9. Thelong cleats which are within the vertical range of oscillating members10 are thus moved longitudinally forward and backward through shortdistances. When either short cleat a or long cleat b moves downwardly tothe point of clearing the lower end of the oscillating member 10 at theright-hand side of hopper D and has its forward end abutting fixed guideportion 94 of exit gate support 15 (as is short cleat c in Figure 9) thecleat resting thereon (long cleat d in Figure 9) will be movedlongitudinally relative to it, thereby causing their contiguoussurfaces, if interlocked due to extreme roughness, to be sheared apart,and allowing inclined shelf 13 to function properly with the cooperationof offset 95 in assuring the dependable supply of cleats to theconveyors.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides apparatusforreliably dispensing cleats of at least two different lengths to abox-making machine. It should be emphasized, however, that theparticular embodiments of the invention shown and described herein areintended as merely illustrative and not as restrictive of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for dispensing cleats of at least two different lengths toa box-making machine of the type having cleat pushing elements movablealong a path anda cleat supporting track belowisaidpathto support cleatsmoved by said elements, said apparatus comprising a cleat hopperincluding upstanding side and end guides for confining against lateraland longitudinal movement cleats stacked generally above and inalignment with said cleat supporting track for successive removal ofsaid cleats from the bottom of such stack by said cleat pushingelements, the end guide at the trailing ends of the cleats in said stackhaving near its lower end a cleat engaging surface projecting into saidhopper in position to engage the trailing ends of the longer cleats inapproximately the third-from-bottom position in said stack, and the endguide at the leading ends of the cleats in said stack having its lowerend positioned to engage and prevent the forward movement from saidhopper of all but the bottom cleat of said stack and having near itslower end a recess to receive the leading ends of the longer cleats whensaid leading ends reach the second-from-bottom position in said stackand allow said cleats to be forced forwardly over said cleat engagingsurface as their trailing ends move downwardly so that their trailingends will clear said cleat engaging surface and drop into the path ofsaid cleat pushing elements as the cleats reach the bottom of saidstack.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hopper is arranged topermit frictional engagement between the upper surface of the bottomcleat in said stack and the lower surface of the next cleat above duringthe time said bottom cleat is being pushed forwardly from said stack byone of said cleat pushing elements, whereby to urge said next cleatabove forwardly in said hopper so that its trailing end can clear saidcleat engaging surface.

3. Apparatus for dispensing cleats of at least two diiferent lengths toa box-making machine of the type having cleat pushing elements movablealong a path and a cleat supporting track below said path to supportcleats moved by said elements, said apparatus comprising a cleat hopperincluding upstanding side and end guides for confining against lateraland longitudinal movement cleats stacked generally above and inalignment with said cleat supporting track for successive removal ofsaid cleats from the bottom of such stack by said cleat pushingelements, the end guide at the trailing ends of the cleats in said stackhaving near its lower end a cleat engaging surface projecting into saidhopper in position to engage the trailing ends of the longer cleats inapproximately the third-from bottorn position in said stack and the endguide at the leading ends of the cleats in said stack having its lowerend positioned to engage and prevent the forward movement from saidhopper of all out the bottom cleat of said stack and having near itslower end a recess to receive the leading ends of the longer cleats whensaid leading ends reach the second-from-bottom position in said stackand allow said cleats to be forced forwardly over said cleat engagingsurface as their trailing ends move downwardly so that their trailingends will clear said cleat engaging surface and drop into the path ofsaid cleat pushing elements as the cleats reach the bottom of saidstack, a cleat guideway communicating with said hopper to permit thelateral movement of cleats from said guideway into said hopper, saidguideway having at one side, in position for frictional engagement withthe cleats therein, a movable cleat conveyor and means to drive saidcleat conveyor at a speed tending to supply cleats to said hopper at arate slightly in excess of the rate at which cleats are removed fromsaid conveyor by said cleat pushing elements, whereby to exert on thestack of cleats in the hopper a continuous pressure urging said cleatstoward the bottom of said hopper.

4. Apparatus for dispensing cleats of at least two different lengths toa box-making machine of the type having cleat pushing elements movablealong a path and a cleat supporting track below said path to supportcleats moved by said elements, said apparatus comprising a cleat hopperincluding upstanding side and end guides for confining against lateraland longitudinal movement cleats stacked generally above and inalignment with said cleat supporting track for suecessive removal ofsaid. cleats from thebottom of such stack by said cleat pushingelements, the end guide at the trailing ends of the cleats in said stackhaving near its lower end a cleat engaging surface projecting into saidhopper in position to engage the trailing ends of the longer cleats inapproximately the third-frOm-bottom position in such stack and the endguide at the leading ends of the cleats in said stack having its lowerend positioned to engage and prevent the forward movement from saidhopper of all but the bottom cleat of said stack and having near itslower end a recess to receive the leading ends of the longer cleats whensaid leading ends reach the second-frorn-bottom position in said stackand allow said cleats to be forced forwardly over said cleat engagingsurface as their trailing ends move downwardly so that their trailingends will clear said cleat engaging surface and drop into the path ofsaid cleat pushing elements as the cleats reach the bottom of saidstack, and a cleat supporting step mounted just below the path of saidcleat pushing elements but above said cleat supporting track to supportthe bottom cleat in said stack.

5. Apparatus for dispensing cleats of at least two different lengths toa box-making machine of the type having cleat pushing elements movablealong a path and a cleat supporting track below said path to supportcleats moved by said elements, said apparatus comprising a cleat hopperincluding upstanding side and end guides for confining against lateraland longitudinal movement cleats stacked generally above and inalignment with said track for successive removal of said cleats from thebottom of such stack by said cleat pushing elements, the end guide atthe leading ends of the cleat in said stack having its lower endpositioned to engage and prevent forward movement from said hopper ofall but the bottom cleat in said stack, a cleat engaging device movablymounted near the lower end of the end guide at the trailing ends of thecleats in such stack, and urged toward a normal position but yieldablefor movement of said cleat engaging device to an actuated position, saidcleat engaging device including a cleat engaging surface arranged toproject into said 7 hopper in position to engage the trailing ends ofthe longer cleat in approximately the thirdfrom-bottom position in saidstack when said cleat engaging device is moved to its actuated position,a push element-engaging portion operatively connected to said cleatengaging device and arranged to project into the path of said cleatpushing elements at a point beyond the line of the trailing ends of thelonger cleats in said staclr when said cleat engaging device is innormal position, whereby each of said cleat pushing elements will engagesaid push-elementengaging portion and move said cleat engaging device toits actuated position at which said cleat engaging surface can engagethe trailing end of a longer cleat in approximatelythe thirdfrom-bottomposition in said stack and prevent it from dropping into the path ofsaid cleat pushing element until after said cleat pushingelement'has'passed the trailing'end of said longer cleat, at which timesaid cleat pushing-element will clear said push-element engag-ing-'portion and allow said cleatengaging device to move back to itsv normalposition and withdraw said cleat engaging surface from engagement withthe trailing end of saidlongercleat, permitting the trailing end of saidlonger cleat to drop into the path of said cleat'pushing elements inposi-' tion for engagement by the next succeeding cleat pushing element.

6. Apparatus for dispensing cleats of at least two different lengths toa box-making machine of the type having cleat pushing elements mov ablealong a path and a cleat supporting track below said path tosupportcleats moved by said elements, said apparatus comprising a cleathopper includingupstanding-side and end guides for confining against:lateral and longitudinal movement cleats stacked generally above and inalignment with said cleat supporting track for successive removal ofsaidcleats from'the bottom. of said stack by' said cleat pushingelements, a cleat engaging device movably mounted near the lower endfofthe end guide at the trailing ends of the cleats in such stack, andurged toward a normal position butyieldable for movement of saidcleatengaging device to an actuated position, said cleat'engaging'deviceincluding. a cleat engaging surface arranged to project into said hopperin position toengage the trailing ends of the longer cleatsinapproximately the third-from-bottom position in said stack when saidcleat engaging device ismoved to its actuated position, apush-element-engaging portion operatively connected to said cleatengaging de vice and arranged to. project into the. path of said cleatpushing elements when said cleat engaging device isin normalposition,.whereby said cleat pushing elementsiwill engage said pushelement engaging portion and move said cleat engaging device to itsactuated position at which said cleat engaging surface will engage thetrailv ing ends of'the longer cleats in approximately thethird-from-bottom position in said stack, and

the end guide at the leading ends of the cleats in said stack having itslower end positioned to engage and prevent the forward movement fromsaid hopper of all but the bottomcleat of. said stack. and having nearits lower end a recess to receive the leading. ends of the longer cleatswhen said. leading ends reach the. second-frombottorn position in saidstack and allow said cleats to be forced forwardly over saidcleatengaging surface as their trailing. ends move. downwardly so thattheir trailing end will. clear saidcleat engaging surface and drop intothe path of. said cleat pushing elements as the cleats. reach the bottomof said stack.

'7. Apparatus for dispensing cleats of at least two difierent lengths toa box-making machine of the type having cleat pushing elements movablealong a path and a cleat supporting track below said path to supportcleats moved by said elements, said apparatus comprising a cleat hopperincluding upstanding side and end guides for confining against lateraland longitudinal movement cleats stacked generally above and inalignment with said cleat supporting track for successive removal of"said cleats from the-bottom of" such stack by'said cleatpushingelements, a cleat engaging element pivotally mounted near thelower end of the end guide at the trailing ends of the cleats in saidstack; a spring biasing said cleat engaging element toward a normalposition but yieldable'to allow pivoting of said cleat engagingdevice-to'an actuated position,. said cleat engaging element including acleat engaging surface arranged to project into said hopperinpositionto' engage the trailing ends of. the longer cleats in approximately thethirdefrom-bottom position insaid stack when. said. cleat engagingelement is moved to its. actuated positionand. a push element-engaging:portion operatively' connected to said cleat: engaging device: and:arranged to project into the-path of. said cleatipushing" elements whensaid cleat-engaging device is in normal position, whereby said cleatpushing elements will engage said push. element-engaging. portion andmove said cleat engaging device to its actuated positionatwhichsaidcleat engaging surface will engage the trailing ends. of the longercleats. in. approximately the third-frome bottom position in said stack;and. the; end. guide at the leading ends. of the cleats in said stackhaving its lower end positioned to engage and prevent"the:forwardzmovement. from said' hopper of all butthe. bottomcleat ofsaid stack and having near its lower end a recess to receive the leadingends of the longer cleats when said leading ends reach thesecond-from-bottom position in said stack and allow said cleats to beforced forwardly over said cleat engaging surface as their trailingendsmove downwardly sothat their trailing ends will clear said. cleatengaging surface and drop into: the path of said cleat pushing elementsas the cleats reach the bottom ofsaid stack;

8'. Apparatus. for dispensing cleats of at least two difierent lengths.to. a box-making machine of. the: type having cleat pushingelements'movable-along a. path and a. cleat supporting: track below saidpath. to support cleatsmoved by said elements said; apparatus.comprising. a: cleat. hopper including upstandingside and. end guidesfor confining against lateral and longitudinal movement cleats stackedgenerally above and in alignment with said. cleat supporting track forsuccessiveremoval of said cleatsfrom the bottom of said stack by saidcleat pushing elements, the end: guide at the trailing ends of thecleats in such stack having near its lower end a cleat engaging surfaceprojecting into said hopper in position to engage the-trailingends ofthe longer cleats in approximately the third-from-botom position insuchstack, and the end guide at the leading ends of the cleats in saidstack having its lower end positioned to engage and prevent the forwardmovement from said hopper of all but the. bottom cleat of. said stackand having near its lower end av recess to. receive theleadingrendsofrthelonger cleats when said lee dingendsreach thesecondefromebottomposition. in. said stack and allow saidv cleats to be forced forwardlyby said cleat engaging surface as their-trailing ends move downwardly sothat their trailing ends will clear said cleat engaging surface. anddrop. into the path of said cleat pushing elements as the cleats reachthe bottom of said stack, and each of said end guides including avertical section reciprocable longitudinally of the cleats in said stackrelative to the adjacent section of said end guide, and motor meansconnected to drive such reciprocable sections whereby to producelongitudinal movement of the cleats within the ver- 13 tical range orsaid reciprocable sections relative to the adjacent cleats outside thevertical range of said reciprocable sections and tend to disengage anyof said cleats which are interlocked due to roughness of theirinterfaces.

9. Apparatus for dispensing cleats of two different lengths to abox-making machine of the type having cleat pushing elements movablealong a path with spaces between said cleat pushing elements foralternate longer and shorter cleats, and a cleat supporting track belowsaid path to support cleats moved by said cleat pushing elements, saidapparatus comprising a, cleat hopper including upstanding side and endguides for confining against lateral and longitudinal movement, agenerally vertical stack of alternately longer and shorter cleatsstacked above and in alignment with said track for successive removal ofsaid cleats from the bottom of said stack by said cleat pushingelements, the end guide at the leading ends of the cleats in said stackhaving its lower end positioned to engage and prevent the forwardmovement from said hopper of all but the bottom cleat of said stack, andthe end guide at the trailing ends of the cleats in such stack havingnear its lower end a cleat-engaging device movable between an actuatedposition at which it projects into said hopper in position to engage andimpede downward movement of the trailing end of the long cleat inapproximately the third-from-bottom position in such stack and aretracted position at which it does not engage and impede downwardmovement of said trailing end, and an actuator for said device operablein timed relationship with the movement of said cleat pushing elements,whereby said device will engage in succession the trailing end of eachlong cleat when it reaches approximately the third-from-bottom positionin said stack to impede downward movement of said trailing end duringthe passage thereunder of a cleat pushing element for a shorter cleat,but will clear said trailing end and permit it to drop under theinfluence of gravity into the path of said cleat pushing elements inposition for engagement by the succeeding cleat pushing elements for alonger cleat.

DAVID G. KINGSLEY.

No references cited.

